Electrolux joins IoT focused AllSeen Alliance

Electrolux have joined the AllSeen Alliance. The AllSeen
Alliance is an open-source project with focus on the innovation of IoT
technology.

IoT stands for the Internet of Things and is a network of
physical objects accessed through the internet. These objects will have
technology such as micro chips embedded in them which will enable them to react
to the external environment or internal states. Objects can therefore sense and
communicate via the internet.

Electrolux own brands such as Frigidare, Zanussi, Molteni,
Eureka and Westinghouse and are best known for products such as vacuum cleaners,
refrigerators and dishwashers.

Electrolux have joined competitors Haier, along with Microsoft,
Panasonic, Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Sharp, Silicon Image, Technicolor
and TP-Link, on AllSeen's Premier Member list. Members range from consumer
electronics and chipset manufacturers to retailers and service providers with
the intention to use the open-source framework as a platform for objects and devices to interact.

The Chairman of AllSeen Alliance, Lait Ben-Zur said in a statement:

“We've said from the
beginning that only a pan-industry effort using open source and collaboration
can advance the technology required to build a truly connected world. The
decision by Electrolux to join with the other signature companies is an
important step forward for the AllSeen Alliance and we look forward to
Electrolux AllJoyn-enabled products being commercially available.”

This can provide for all
kinds of opportunities such as refrigerators that can not only alert you when
they are running low but also order the relevant groceries online for you. It
may also provide for the opportunity to control your vacuum cleaner from home,
enabling you to send instructions as to where in the house you would like to be
vacuumed. The possibilities are endless.

Jan Brockmann, Chief Technology Officer at
Electrolux said:

“Electrolux strongly believes that this technology,
where appliances communicate with each other, with consumers and with other
devices, offers a great potential to develop products and services that improve
how we cook our food and clean our homes. For instance, we are working on
solutions for smarter cooking, which will leverage our professional
capabilities to help people achieve great tasting food with minimum effort.”

On the down side, this type
of technology may carry a security risk. Providing new channels by which firmware
can be hacked. The last thing you want is to have your router hacked into
because the security on your refrigerator is not up to date. Problems, I’m
sure, are being worked on and are constantly being improved by such groups as
the AllSeen Alliance.

Background AllSeen Alliance

The AllSeen Alliance is a nonprofit open source consortium
dedicated to driving the widespread adoption of products, systems and services
that support the Internet of Everything with an open, universal development
framework that is supported by a vibrant ecosystem and thriving technical
community.

The Alliance hosts and advances an industry-supported open
software connectivity and services framework based on AllJoyn technology
accepting contributions from premier members, community members and the open
source community.

This secure and programmable software connectivity and
services framework enables companies and individuals to create interoperable
products that can discover, connect and interact directly with other nearby
devices, systems and services regardless of transport layer, device type,
platform, operating system or brand.